Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Letters will be going out this Thursday for the camp. I need you to return the reply slip no later than Thursday 9 April. If you are/will be on holiday you can email me on kim@ardsleyscouts.org.uk to let me know you want a place. Money will be collected nearer the time with the permission to camp forms. I will give a kit list for the weekend to those I know will be going in a couple of weeks.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Cubs will be having a sleepover camp on 9th/10th May at Silverwood. Please make a note in your diary and watch out for the formal invite coming your way shortly. That goes for anyone not called Shortly too! It will cost £10 approx. so well within pocket money range - or maybe Cubs could do a few jobs around the house to earn it??

Thanks to everyone who turned up tonight for the campfire. All but 2 of our Beavers attended and had a great time singing and doing actions, eating hotdogs and buns. We are as normal next week and will be running as normal throughout the Easter school holidays. I will be shorthanded on 8th April so could do with a volunteer or two to give me a hand with the fun! Hopefully we will be making chocolate nests!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

The lighter nights and nice weather are back with us, which means it's officially the start of the camping season!

To start things off we're running a weekend camp for Scouts from Friday 3 - Monday 6 April at Silverwood. We'll be meeting up at Silverwood at 7pm on the Friday night and pitching the tents. Pick up will be at 3pm on Monday afternoon. The camp fee is £20.

Permission to Camp forms will be given out at Scouts this week, alternatively you can download one from here. You can download a kit list from here.

If you would like to go we need your completed permission to camp form and your £20 camp fee by Wednesday 1st April.

Can I also take this opportunity to mention two more camps that are coming up in the next few weeks for Scouts:-

Over the May Day weekend, 1 - 4 May, we're planning another long-weekend camp which will either be in the Lake District or the North Yorkshire Moors. The cost will be around £50. We're still working out the details, and will get more information out as soon as we can.

Over the weekend of 13/14 June Scouts will be taking part in the Fitzwilliam District Camp, which will also incorporate a Cooking Competition and a First Aid Competition. (Scouts are notoriously accident prone when cooking!)

Can we just say a big 'thank you' to everyone who came to our Curry Night, to the Scouts who helped out on the day who did a great job, and to the people who donated raffle prizes. The event raised £143, which is fantastic. We're already thinking about our next culinary extravaganza so watch this space!

Monday, March 16, 2009

A reminder that this Sunday (22 March) it's our Mothers' Day Family Service & Church Parade. We'll be meeting at 10.15am on Sunday morning, and expect to finish around 11.45am. All Beavers, Cubs and Scouts are expected to attend.

I'm pleased to say we have been awarded a Grassroots Grant of £675 towards the cost of some new heaters for the Scout Hut. The grant is part of the £50,000 Cash Giveaway programme run by the South Yorkshire Community Foundation and the Barnsley Chronicle.

If you've been in the Scout Hut over winter, you'll know that it's not exactly warm! That's because the storage heaters we have at the minute are proving too expensive to run. Over the next few weeks we'll be replacing them with more efficient electric heaters.

We're all looking forward to warmer nights ahead and we're very grateful to SYCF and the Barnsley Chronicle for their support.

An excellent result for Ardsley at this year's District Cyclo-cross competition. Cubs won first, second, and third place in their race to secure an overall victory, and we also came first in the Scouts race.

Representing Cubs were Beth, Chris, Lewis, Thomas, and Ronan. Thomas raced home first, closely followed by Beth and Chris. The Cubs team had the best overall placings so were awarded the team trophy, which we get to keep for a year.

Racing for Scouts we had Ewan, Emily, Caitlin, James, Thomas, and Louis. James secured first place despite some strong competition, but alas Hoyland won the team trophy.

Just a reminder that Scouts will be doing a wide game tonight, so there's no need to come in uniform. We'll be heading up to Horsecarr Wood straight after flagbreak, so if you're late you can catch up with us there.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

On Weds 25 March, Beavers will be held at Wombwell Scout HQ as it is the campfire event. Please meet there at 6pm and collect at 7.30. Wear uniform but bring a coat in case we get outdoors. Light refreshments will be given. Parents are welcome to stay but must join in the singing and actions! Watch this space for directions.

Friday, March 06, 2009

Next Sunday, 15 March, it's the Fitzwilliam District Cyclo-cross event at Silverwood Campsite. We're hoping for a good turnout from our Cub and Scout sections. You never know - we might pick up a trophy or two!

If you'd like to go, you'll need a bike. Obviously. And bear in mind it's a cross-country race so really it needs to be a mountain/bmx-type bike. You'll also need a cycle helmet. This is a must, you will not be allowed to race without a helmet.

Expect to get dirty - especially if it's been wet. We suggest you take either a change of clothes, or some covers for your car seats!

Registration is at 12.15; the actual racing starts at about 1pm, after a walk round the course. The event normally finishes around 3.30pm. Tea & coffee is usually on hand for the adults.

Silverwood Campsite is on the A628 between Dodworth and Silkstone. It's a left turn just after the bend.

Scout Geocache

How to Join

Beavers: to join Beavers you must be 6 or 7 years old. Beaver meetings are held on Wednesdays from 5.30pm to 6.45pm. If you are under 6 we can put you on our waiting list, which will improve your chances of getting a place when you turn 6.

Cubs: to join Cubs you must be at least 8 and not more than 10½ years old. Cub meetings are held on Thursdays from 6.30pm to 8.15pm.

Scouts: to join Scouts you must be at least 10½ and not more than 14½. Scout meetings are held on Wednesdays from 7.00pm to 9.00pm.

Explorers: to join Explorers you must be at least 14 and not more than 18. Explorer meetings are held on Wednesdays from 7.00pm to 9.00pm.

All meetings are held at the Scout Hut, which is on Doncaster Road, adjacent to Christ Church, Ardsley, opposite the Oaks WMC.